Posted: September 21, 2017 Contributor: administrator

Debunking the 5 Most Common Birth Control Misconceptions

Throughout the years, birth control pills have gotten a bad wrap, despite doing so much good for so many women. That’s why we’re here to reconstruct their reputation by dismantling some of the most harmful myths and misconceptions regarding birth control:

Myth #1: The pill can cause infertility.

This little tidbit is not only false; it can be extremely misleading and has the potential to cause unplanned pregnancies if believed. The truth was set straight by Paul Blumenthal M.D., an adviser for Planned Parenthood, who told Parenting that your fertility will go back to how it was prior to birth control. Therefore, if you were fertile before you began taking birth control, you will be just as fertile after—so take caution!

Myth #2: Your body needs a break.

Piggybacking off myth #1, many people think that after taking birth control for an extended amount of time, their body needs time off the pill to “reset.” However, according to the Mayo Clinic, if you are healthy and happy with your birth control routine, and are a non-smoker, you can and should continue until you are ready to get pregnant.

Myth #3: Skipping your period is dangerous.

We know it can feel a little odd disrupting your body’s natural cycle. However, according to the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals, as long as you are healthy, with no health or blood conditions, you can continue your usual birth control methods without any fear of elongated health issues.

Myth #4: You’ll definitely gain weight.

Probably one of the most common of all myths—that birth control aids in weight gain. While people have experienced unknown causes of weight gain in the past, birth control pills have since changed and now have a much lower dose of hormones. With that being said, studies show that there’s no longer a tangible link between birth control and weight gain.

Myth #5: There’s no room for error.

When we are talking about taking the pill daily, consistency is definitely key! However, the belief that the pill has to be taken at the exact same time every single day is where the confusion happens. While sticking to a particular schedule does help decrease the chances of you forgetting a day, you’ll be okay if a situation arises and you are unable to take it for a couple of hours – most of the time. Alexander Chiang M.D., the assistant clinical professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, tells Self that unless you are using a Progestin-only pill (also known as a minipill) there’s no need to stress if the time you take it varies.

So there you go, ladies! If you’re at ease and ready to choose the best birth control pill for you, be sure to schedule a video consultation with a PRJKT RUBY specialist today.